No one likes dealing with acid reflux. Indigestion, sour taste in your mouth, and the difficulty in swallowing are all uncomfortable effects of reflux. But did you know that acid reflux can even cause lose your voice? This is called reflux laryngitis.
Reflux laryngitis is mainly caused by stomach acid coming up into the esophagus and irritating the larynx. This can cause the chronic swelling of the vocal folds and hoarseness.
What is Acid Reflux?
Acid reflux occurs when stomach acid and contents travel up into the esophagus and possibly into the throat. Common signs include a sour/bitter taste in mouth, burping, nausea, and difficulty in swallowing. Cause of Acid Reflux A persistent reflux can be caused by obesity, diet, food sensitivities and certain behaviors such as bending over, lying down or singing immediately after eating. There are also theories that acid reflux is caused by underproduction of stomach acid. Never underestimate the role stress and anxiety play in your health as well.
- Symptoms of Acid Reflux
- Scratchy throat/ feeling of something stuck in the throat
- Bitter taste in your mouth, especially in the morning
- Bad voice quality in the morning
- A chronic cough and/or a sore throat
- Feel as though there is something stuck in your throat
- Prolonged warm-up time needed for the voice
- Reduced pitch range
Chronic throat clearing Diagnosis & Treatment The speech therapist at The Royans Institute for Non-Surgical Voice Repair treats your reflux with careful diet and lifestyle modifications.
The speech therapist acknowledges your condition and recommends you some individual exercises in order to treat your lost voice. Dealing with these exercises regularly and following a healthy lifestyle will help to get your voice back.
